Dodgers vs. Brewers: The Series That Could Decide It All
Dodgers Dugout: Brewers Series Showdown, Steve Edwards Interview & Playoff Picture
Welcome to Dodgers Dugout!
Hi there! I’m Houston Mitchell, your guide to all things Dodgers. In this edition, we’re looking at a huge four-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers, chatting with LA legend Steve Edwards, and checking out the upcoming schedule.
Quick Fun Fact: Mark Walter (who owns the Dodgers) just sold the Lakers for $12.5 billion after only 10 months! If every Dodgers Dugout reader chipped in $50 million… we might be able to buy the Dodgers. (Just kidding… mostly.)
Why This Brewers Series Is a Really Big Deal
The Dodgers start a four-game series vs. the Milwaukee Brewers tonight at Dodger Stadium. Here’s why it matters so much:
How the Playoffs Work (ELI5 Version)
- Three division winners automatically make the playoffs.
- The two best records get a bye (skip the first round).
- The division winner with the worst record has to play in the Wild Card round.
- Tiebreaker #1: Head-to-head record.
Current Standings (as of Wednesday night)
| Rank | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milwaukee Brewers | 74-47 |
| 2 | Atlanta Braves | 73-48 |
| 3 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 73-48 |
Head-to-Head So Far
- Dodgers vs. Brewers: Dodgers lead 2-1
- Dodgers vs. Braves: Braves lead 2-1
What This Means: The Dodgers must win at least 2 of 4 (split the series) to keep the tiebreaker edge over Milwaukee. Winning 3 or 4 games would be even better! If the Brewers win 3 or 4, they take the driver’s seat for the best record and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Remaining games vs. Braves: August 25-27 in Atlanta.
Tale of the Tape: Dodgers vs. Brewers (Through Tuesday)
Let’s compare the two teams side-by-side. Green = Advantage
Offense
| Stat | Dodgers | Brewers | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Runs per game | 5.02 (3rd) | 4.91 (5th) | Dodgers |
| Batting Average | .261 (1st) | .252 (6th) | Dodgers |
| On-Base % | .338 (2nd) | .336 (3rd) | Dodgers |
| Slugging % | .428 (2nd) | .396 (19th) | Dodgers |
| Home Runs | 152 (7th) | 110 (30th) | Dodgers |
| Doubles | 198 (9th) | 214 (3rd) | Brewers |
| Triples | 12 (18th) | 20 (7th) | Brewers |
| Stolen Bases | 46 (28th) | 118 (5th) | Brewers |
| Sacrifice Bunts | 12 (22nd) | 29 (2nd) | Brewers |
ELI5 Takeaway: The Dodgers crush the ball (way more HRs, better slugging). The Brewers play "small ball" — more doubles, triples, steals, and bunts. Two very different styles!
Pitching
| Stat | Dodgers | Brewers | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall ERA | 3.72 (7th) | 3.54 (4th) | Brewers |
| Rotation ERA | 3.54 (4th) | 3.56 (5th) | Dodgers (barely) |
| Bullpen ERA | 4.02 (16th) | 3.51 (4th) | Brewers |
| Strikeouts | 1,073 (8th) | 1,169 (2nd) | Brewers |
| Walks | 373 (10th fewest) | 376 (11th fewest) | Dodgers |
| HRs Allowed | 143 (20th) | 123 (7th fewest) | Brewers |
| Saves | 32 (14th) | 38 (3rd) | Brewers |
| Blown Saves | 16 (T-15th) | 15 (T-19th) | Dodgers |
| Inherited Runners Scored % | 35.5% (23rd) | 41.9% (28th) | Dodgers |
ELI5 Takeaway: Starting pitching is a wash (both elite). Big edge to Milwaukee’s bullpen — they’ve been much better at closing games. Dodgers’ bullpen has been shaky (sound familiar? Like last year!).
The Brewers’ October Ghosts
Milwaukee has made the playoffs 7 of the last 8 years but keeps hitting a wall:
| Year | Result | Lost To |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | NLCS (4-3) | Dodgers |
| 2019 | Wild Card | Washington |
| 2020 | Wild Card (2-0) | Dodgers |
| 2021 | NLDS (3-1) | Atlanta |
| 2022 | Missed playoffs (86-76) | — |
| 2023 | Wild Card (2-0) | Arizona |
| 2024 | Wild Card (2-1) | New York |
| 2025 | NLCS (4-0) | Dodgers |
Three NLCS losses to the Dodgers since 2018. Ouch.
Big Question: Why didn’t they trade for Tarik Skubal? Adding him to Jacob Misiorowski (NL Cy Young favorite) would’ve been a terrifying 1-2 punch. Instead, they got former Dodger Dustin May.
Silver Lining: Finishing 3rd (playing the Wild Card) isn’t doom! The Dodgers played in the Wild Card last year and won the World Series. This season feels eerily similar: shaky bullpen, dominant rotation.
L.A. Legend Steve Edwards: "Good Day L.A." Host & Dodgers Superfan
Steve Edwards has done it all in LA media — radio, TV, you name it. He’s best known as the longtime host of "Good Day L.A." He’s also a die-hard Dodgers fan and newsletter subscriber. Here’s our chat:
Q: How long have you been a Dodgers fan? Favorite memory/player?
Steve: "Started as a Bronx kid in the ‘Willie, Mickey & the Duke’ era (Mays, Mantle, Snider). I was a Yankees fan by geography, but Jackie Robinson was a hero in my neighborhood. Loved Pee Wee Reese, Campanella, Hodges, Furillo, Snider… The Duke. Slowly flipped allegiance — moving to LA sealed it. My Brooklyn-born mom would’ve been thrilled."
Q: How do you assess this year’s team?
Steve: "Really good yet disappointing. We’re spoiled — we get more and want more. But come playoffs: Kiké hits .900, Glasnow & Snell throw no-hitters, Freddie hits walk-offs. If Tucker & Díaz turn it on… watch out."
Q: Genie makes you owner. Three immediate changes?
- Keep Yordan Alvarez. (Wait… he’s an Astro! Steve’s wishing!)
- Frank McCourt never buys the Dodgers (or keeps land/parking shares).
- Love Joe Davis & Stephen Nelson, but I still want to hear Vin Scully’s voice — the soundtrack of our lives, the voice that connected us as a community and defined LA.
Q: Shohei Ohtani not in a "Top 10 Greatest Dodgers" list. Too soon?
Steve: "Crazy! Shohei didn’t become the Face of Baseball until he became a Dodger. Even with Trout, he didn’t move the needle much in Anaheim. Here? Seismic shift. He’s already one of the most memorable Dodgers ever. Top 10? He’s in."
Q: Favorite gig? (Including 1991 WrestleMania tickets on KABC 790!)
Steve: "Like picking a favorite grandkid. But Sportstalk was special."
Q: "So Unanchored" podcast with Jillian Barberie & Dorothy Lucey?
Steve: "Came organically — we’ve stayed close through life’s ups/downs. People loved (or were annoyed by) ‘Good Day LA.’ It’s free on YouTube: ‘So Unanchored’. Good deal at that price!"
Up Next: The Schedule
| Day | Matchup | Pitchers (Record, ERA) | Time (PT) | TV/Radio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu | MIL @ LAD | Shane Drohan (6-4, 3.87) vs Roki Sasaki (5-5, 4.54) | 7:10 PM | SportsNet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020 |
| Fri | MIL @ LAD | Robert Gasser (3-4, 4.57) vs Yoshinobu Yamamoto (11-7, 2.65) | 7:10 PM | SportsNet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020 |
| Sat | MIL @ LAD | Jacob Misiorowski (11-5, 2.76) vs Justin Wrobleski (11-4, 3.44) | 4:15 PM | Fox, AM 570, KTNQ 1020 |
| Sun | MIL @ LAD | Logan Henderson (6-2, 2.88) vs Tarik Skubal (6-2, 2.93 / 0-1, 4.09 w/ LAD) | 1:10 PM | SportsNet LA, AM 570, KTNQ 1020 |
All times Pacific. = Left-handed pitcher.*
In Case You Missed It (Recent Stories)
- Freddie Freeman avoids serious injury in dugout step fall
- Dalton Rushing gives promising elbow injury update
- The Shohei Ohtani Economy: $85 for a 2-mile ride to Dodger Stadium
And Finally… Vin Scully
Relive the final game of Vin Scully’s legendary career. Watch & listen here.
Until Next Time…
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Summary
- Huge series vs. Brewers — Dodgers need 2+ wins to keep tiebreaker for playoff bye.
- Offense: Dodgers = Power (HRs, Slugging). Brewers = Speed/Small Ball (Steals, Bunts, Doubles).
- Pitching: Rotations even. Brewers’ bullpen >> Dodgers’ bullpen (so far).
- Brewers’ playoff history: 0-3 in NLCS vs. Dodgers since 2018. Didn’t land Skubal.
- Steve Edwards interview: LA icon, lifelong fan, loves Vin Scully, thinks Ohtani is already Top 10.
- Schedule: Sasaki, Yamamoto, Wrobleski, Skubal (Dodgers debut!) vs. Brewers’ young arms.
- Freeman OK, Rushing progressing, Ohtani economy is wild.
FAQ
Q: What does "magic number" mean? Is it mentioned here?
A: Not directly, but it’s the combo of wins/losses needed to clinch. With the tight 3-way race, every game is the magic number right now.
Q: Why does head-to-head record matter so much?
A: It’s the first tiebreaker if teams finish with identical records. Dodgers lead Brewers 2-1 — winning 2 of 4 keeps that edge.
Q: Is Tarik Skubal starting Sunday for the Dodgers?!
A: Yes! He was just acquired. His line shows 0-1, 4.09 ERA with Dodgers — that’s his first start (a loss), but his overall stuff is elite. Huge test vs. Milwaukee.
Q: Who is Jacob Misiorowski?
A: Brewers’ ace. 11-5, 2.76 ERA, NL Cy Young favorite. He starts Saturday. The guy they didn’t pair with Skubal.
Q: Where can I listen to Steve Edwards’ podcast?
A: YouTube → "So Unanchored" — free, with Jillian Barberie & Dorothy Lucey. Good Day LA reunion!